Hon. Qereqeretabua meets with the special envoy for the French President Macron

The Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Lenora Qereqeretabua, met with the Special Envoy of the President of France to the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) and French Ambassador for Polar and Maritime Issues, His Excellency Ambassador Olivier Poivre d’ Arvor.

The first of such meeting convened with the French Special Envoy, signifies a crucial step in strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation between Fiji and France on pertinent issues of mutual interest to both the nations.

The discussions highlighted collaboration opportunities in the build up to the Third UN Oceans Conference to be held in Nice, France in June 2025, with the theme, “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainability use the ocean.”

Assistant Minister Qereqeretabua welcomed the Special Envoy and acknowledged the ongoing cooperation with France and its commitment to advance relations with Fiji.

Hon. Qereqeretabua thanked France for its interest to collaborate with Fiji on initiatives to address climate change and marine conservation to help build economic resilience.

Further, the Assistant Minister highlighted Fiji’s commitment to the Oceans of Peace Concept, as led by the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka.

Special Envoy Arvor said the French President H.E Emmanuel Macron looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Rabuka to France for an official visit, emphasizing that Prime Minister Rabuka’s presence will be important also at the UNOC3 next year, given his strong leadership in the Region.

France, he said also looks forward to convening a meeting with the Pacific Island Leaders at the margins of the UNOC3 to see how best France can contribute towards the region’s development and wellbeing, stating that Fiji’s status as the regional hub will be instrumental in undertaking this new initiative.

Special Envoy Arvor looks forward to attending the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga next week and hopes to meet with Prime Minister Rabuka and other Pacific Leaders on the margins.

Further, the Special Envoy Arvor said France looks forward to the following initiatives to be pursued under the cooperation between the two nations.

Sister cities cooperation between cities and towns in France and Fiji to incorporate urban planning and development

Deployment of scientists from Fiji to be stationed at French scientific stations based in the Arctic and Antarctica to better understand the links of melting polar caps, rising temperatures and rising sea level.

️France also looks forward to leverage greater support on Fiji’s call for commitment to the Loss and Damage funding to support communities that are impacted by the devastations of climate change among the 200 communities that needs to be relocated in Fiji.

The French Special Envoy conveyed the best wishes of President Macron to the President of the Republic Fiji, His Excellency, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere and the people of Fiji.